AFTERNOON DELIGHTS: Martin Nievera, the Philippines superstar who attended school in Hawai'i, will open Valentine's Day at the Aladdin hotel in Las Vegas. He'll share his timeless romantic favorites, tapping Broadway to Bublé  and incorporate his own hits, like "Be My Lady"  in a 5 p.m. performance daily. Nievera, who calls mentors Tony Ruivivar and Bert Sagum of the Society of Seven his "uncles," will become an afternoon delight, too, because the SOS stars in its own 3 p.m. shows at the Flamingo hotel a few casinos away. Should be welcome news for fans bound for Vegas. ...

NOTES FROM ABROAD: John Bryan, a familiar figure in Ron Bright shows at Castle High School and Paliku Theatre, Diamond Head Theatre and Army Community Theatre, seems to have landed a dream job. For the past three months, Bryan  an actor, singer and pianist  has been performing at Universal Studios in Japan. He's been offered what he calls a "tailor-made position," as assistant to the casting director and assistant to the musical director. He'll double as the rehearsal and audition pianist for Universal there, tasks he previously performed here. But now the world calls: Universal will send auditioners to London, Australia and some U.S. ports this year; Bryan is pushing for a Hawai'i stop, too  at least that's what he's e-mailing friends  since there's a wealth of talent here. ...

Soprano Elizabeth Hartnett, a former Mililani resident, will be off to Toronto in March to compete as a finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Voice Competition. She's a senior at DePauw University and has been a voice student who'll earn her bachelor of music degree in May. You know her as Cinderella in Diamond Head Theatre's "Into the Woods," but she's also performed in the Hawaii Opera Theatre's "Carmen" and "Die Zauberflote." Her aunt is Jamie Hartnett of Clear Channel radio here. ...

DATES TO CIRCLE: "The Asian Kings of Comedy," at 8 p.m. March 23 at the Hawai'i Theatre, will assemble headliner Paul Ogata, the one-time radio deejay here, who'll perform with Kevin Shea (seen on "Jimmy Kimmel Live"), Edwin San Juan (on B.E.T.) and Shecky Wong (on Showtime). Fewer names on the bill mean each act gets more time at the mike, with plans for taping and a future DVD release. Since abandoning his stand-up and radio mike here, Ogata has been jamming, working up and down the California coast, with gigs in Florida and New York, too. NBC named him one of its Top 10 comedians in a Stand-Up for Diversity search. ...

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Filet mignon or T-bone with bone in? That's a likely issue when the newest Ruth's Chris Steak House opens March 19 in a second-floor location at the Waikiki Beach Walk project. It will have an Island clubhouse feeling, "infused with aloha," says owner Randy Schoch. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Andrew Meader, who works year-'round in support of the arts, took a day off last week to further his acting career and expand his credits  with a role on ABC's "Lost," playing opposite Evangeline Lilly. ...

The Advertiser's press building in Kapolei will make its TV debut  on "Lost"  when crews film exteriors and the parking lot. The facility will play a supporting role  that of an unnamed airport  with one interior scene where an actress awaits a plane. ...

Penny Balfour, daughter of Dr. John Balfour and ex-wife Yvonna (who works in wardrobe on Broadway) is among the stars of "Arthur and the Invisibles," in which she plays the daughter of Mia Farrow. The cast includes Freddie Highmore, David Bowie and Snoop Dogg. Penny also was pictured in a recent New York magazine with director Luc Besson, shot at the N.Y. world premiere....

Attorney Terrance Tom, who has another life as a pianist, is tickling the ivories from 6 to 9 p.m.Wednesdays and Saturdays at Sam Choy's Diamond Head in Kapahulu through February. ...